Heritage Weavers to highlight crafts Saturday at farm

Patty Caruso, with the Heritage Weavers and Fiber Artists, works on one of her projects at the Historic Johnson Farm. The Heritage
Weavers are getting ready for their Fiber Expo on Saturday.

Photo by Patrick Sullivan/Times-News

By Beth BeasleyTimes-News Correspondent

Published: Sunday, January 20, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 18, 2013 at 1:40 p.m.

The ancient craft of weaving and working with fiber is still going strong at Historic Johnson Farm, where members of the Heritage Weavers and Fiber Artists are excited about sharing what they know about the limitless creative possibilities of fiber.

Facts

Want to go?

What: Fiber Expo, sponsored by theHeritage Weavers and Fiber Artists

When: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday

Where: Historic Johnson Farm, 3346Haywood Road, Hendersonville

Admission: Free

Information: 828-891-6585,www.historicjohnsonfarm.or

The group is gearing up for its second annual Fiber Expo on Saturday, with hands-on activities and demonstrations in various types of weaving, as well as knitting, bobbin lace, rug hooking and spinning in a free event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"If you're scared to death of touching a floor loom, here's your chance to discover it's a friendly machine you can make something beautiful on," says Ann Mullican, who is one of about 50 members in the heritage craft organization.

The second annual event will take place in what was originally the historic farm's boarding house, next door to the main farmhouse at the educational facility owned by Henderson County Public Schools.

The two-story white clapboard building has served as home base for the fiber arts organization since the building's restoration three years ago.

The Heritage Weavers and Fiber Artists is a study group of Western North Carolina Fibers/Handweaver's Guild, as well as a member of the Arts Council of Henderson County.

"We are so pleased to be at Johnson Farm," says Mullican, a Hendersonville resident who has taught weaving for 30 years.

The "loom room" on the ground floor of the facility houses a wide variety of floor looms, most laden with works in progress that are the fruit of special projects decided on by members, such as huck lace and cloth in various patterns.

"We're all about different fiber arts, and that's what the expo is about," says Faye Russell, a member who joined the weavers' group after moving to Hendersonville five years ago from southern Louisiana.

Also in the loom room is an antique sock-knitting machine that has been modified to work with electricity.

It is being used by some members to make scarves — in a knitted tube form.

"We have these very clever people here," Russell says.

Russell is weaving a scarf on a loom as a way to demonstrate the craft during the organization's open houses on Tuesday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon.

Like other projects she creates on site, Russell starts by weaving a small sample with fringe, to test durability.

Unlike other fiber shows around the area, the Johnson Farm expo will be less about vendor displays and more about getting a unique, hands-on experience.

"The focus is to introduce people to these crafts so they can try them, hands on, and decide if it's something they want to do," Russell says.

If you try something that intrigues you at the Fiber Expo, there will be a chance to sign up for lessons scheduled for February, March and April at the facility.

Mullican says it's fun to see people follow an interest and get lost in the creative process.

About seven teachers will participate in the Fiber Expo, including Patty Caruso, a teacher new to the organization, who will demonstrate and offer a chance to operate a rigid heddle loom, which is an older style of loom than the floor looms.

Classes in creating pieces on a rigid heddle loom will be offered this spring, Russell said.

Special dedication

This year, the Fiber Expo is dedicated to the late Bessie Jordan, to honor her contributions to the craft of weaving in Henderson County.

Jordan was a teacher and administrator in Henderson County schools for many years, and her family had a connection with the Johnson family.

"Not only did she teach and influence the lives of hundreds of Henderson County's children, she spent more than 30 years sharing her love of weaving with others of all age levels," says Joyce Cochran, publicity volunteer for Johnson Farm and the Heritage Weavers.

A display of samples demonstrating Jordan's expert weaving skills, as well as some replicas of the intricate weaving patterns she collected on her travels around the country, has been created for Saturday's event.

Checkered dish towels, in Jordan's favorite color, blue, are in the process of being woven on Jordan's personal loom, a "Macomber 4 now 4 later" loom now housed at the fiber arts building.

As they are completed, the dish towels will be offered for sale in the Heritage Weavers' shop across the hall.

For most of the year, Heritage Weavers opens its doors to more than 1,200 schoolchildren from the county — and sometimes beyond — for field-trip lessons.

Fourth-graders and students of other ages learn about particular aspects of fiber crafts, from spinning to bobbin lace production.

"The thing that thrills me about this organization is that we are ‘on focus' as far as our mission statement," Russell says of the educational programs.

The organization also offers study groups and gatherings of knitters, including ongoing seasonal classes and a summer Fiber Arts Camp for kids ages 9 and older.

Members of the organization, dedicated to "preserving and sharing" the spectrum of "Appalachian fiber crafts needed to support a frontier homestead in WNC," are excited to "reach out to the next generation without losing sight of this generation," Russell says.

When children on field trips learn where wool comes from, Mullican loves to see kids' reactions.

"They're just floored," she says.

Member Paula Ashworth keeps some sheep, and some of their wool is used for the spinning demonstrations given in one of the building's upstairs rooms.

Sheep-shearing demonstrations are given on the building's front porch during the annual spring festival in April.

The flowerbeds at the base of the porch include plants used for dyeing fiber.

The plants will be ready for use this year, says Cochran, who is one of the volunteer "garden divas" at Johnson Farm.

Last spring, the Heritage Weavers mentored a local high school student, Rachel Howell, who was doing extensive research for a senior project on the loss of this area's weaving and textile industry.

Howell learned how to weave as part of her project, and spent significant time on a Heritage Weavers' loom, Mullican says.

Howell graduated from West Henderson High School in June and is now studying graphic design at Appalachian State University.

At the Fiber Expo, Mullican will demonstrate and lead hands-on practice on the inkle loom, an ancient loom that was used by nomadic tribes of Mesopotamia, among other cultures around the world.

"These looms, the traditions have been around for thousands of years," Mullican says. "They can be traced back to pictures on the walls of ancient tombs."

<p>The ancient craft of weaving and working with fiber is still going strong at Historic Johnson Farm, where members of the Heritage Weavers and Fiber Artists are excited about sharing what they know about the limitless creative possibilities of fiber.</p><p>The group is gearing up for its second annual Fiber Expo on Saturday, with hands-on activities and demonstrations in various types of weaving, as well as knitting, bobbin lace, rug hooking and spinning in a free event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. </p><p>"If you're scared to death of touching a floor loom, here's your chance to discover it's a friendly machine you can make something beautiful on," says Ann Mullican, who is one of about 50 members in the heritage craft organization.</p><p>The second annual event will take place in what was originally the historic farm's boarding house, next door to the main farmhouse at the educational facility owned by Henderson County Public Schools.</p><p>The two-story white clapboard building has served as home base for the fiber arts organization since the building's restoration three years ago.</p><p>The Heritage Weavers and Fiber Artists is a study group of Western North Carolina Fibers/Handweaver's Guild, as well as a member of the Arts Council of Henderson County.</p><p>"We are so pleased to be at Johnson Farm," says Mullican, a Hendersonville resident who has taught weaving for 30 years.</p><p>The "loom room" on the ground floor of the facility houses a wide variety of floor looms, most laden with works in progress that are the fruit of special projects decided on by members, such as huck lace and cloth in various patterns.</p><p>"We're all about different fiber arts, and that's what the expo is about," says Faye Russell, a member who joined the weavers' group after moving to Hendersonville five years ago from southern Louisiana.</p><p>Also in the loom room is an antique sock-knitting machine that has been modified to work with electricity.</p><p>It is being used by some members to make scarves — in a knitted tube form.</p><p>"We have these very clever people here," Russell says. </p><p>Russell is weaving a scarf on a loom as a way to demonstrate the craft during the organization's open houses on Tuesday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon.</p><p>Like other projects she creates on site, Russell starts by weaving a small sample with fringe, to test durability.</p><p>Unlike other fiber shows around the area, the Johnson Farm expo will be less about vendor displays and more about getting a unique, hands-on experience.</p><p>"The focus is to introduce people to these crafts so they can try them, hands on, and decide if it's something they want to do," Russell says. </p><p>If you try something that intrigues you at the Fiber Expo, there will be a chance to sign up for lessons scheduled for February, March and April at the facility.</p><p>Mullican says it's fun to see people follow an interest and get lost in the creative process.</p><p>About seven teachers will participate in the Fiber Expo, including Patty Caruso, a teacher new to the organization, who will demonstrate and offer a chance to operate a rigid heddle loom, which is an older style of loom than the floor looms.</p><p>Classes in creating pieces on a rigid heddle loom will be offered this spring, Russell said.</p><p>Special dedication</p><p>This year, the Fiber Expo is dedicated to the late Bessie Jordan, to honor her contributions to the craft of weaving in Henderson County.</p><p>Jordan was a teacher and administrator in Henderson County schools for many years, and her family had a connection with the Johnson family. </p><p>"Not only did she teach and influence the lives of hundreds of Henderson County's children, she spent more than 30 years sharing her love of weaving with others of all age levels," says Joyce Cochran, publicity volunteer for Johnson Farm and the Heritage Weavers. </p><p>A display of samples demonstrating Jordan's expert weaving skills, as well as some replicas of the intricate weaving patterns she collected on her travels around the country, has been created for Saturday's event.</p><p>Checkered dish towels, in Jordan's favorite color, blue, are in the process of being woven on Jordan's personal loom, a "Macomber 4 now 4 later" loom now housed at the fiber arts building.</p><p>As they are completed, the dish towels will be offered for sale in the Heritage Weavers' shop across the hall.</p><p>The shop regularly sells items handmade by members, with proceeds benefitting the organization's programs.</p><p>For most of the year, Heritage Weavers opens its doors to more than 1,200 schoolchildren from the county — and sometimes beyond — for field-trip lessons.</p><p>Fourth-graders and students of other ages learn about particular aspects of fiber crafts, from spinning to bobbin lace production.</p><p>"The thing that thrills me about this organization is that we are 'on focus' as far as our mission statement," Russell says of the educational programs. </p><p>The organization also offers study groups and gatherings of knitters, including ongoing seasonal classes and a summer Fiber Arts Camp for kids ages 9 and older. </p><p>Members of the organization, dedicated to "preserving and sharing" the spectrum of "Appalachian fiber crafts needed to support a frontier homestead in WNC," are excited to "reach out to the next generation without losing sight of this generation," Russell says.</p><p>When children on field trips learn where wool comes from, Mullican loves to see kids' reactions.</p><p>"They're just floored," she says.</p><p>Member Paula Ashworth keeps some sheep, and some of their wool is used for the spinning demonstrations given in one of the building's upstairs rooms.</p><p>Sheep-shearing demonstrations are given on the building's front porch during the annual spring festival in April.</p><p>The flowerbeds at the base of the porch include plants used for dyeing fiber.</p><p>The plants will be ready for use this year, says Cochran, who is one of the volunteer "garden divas" at Johnson Farm.</p><p>Last spring, the Heritage Weavers mentored a local high school student, Rachel Howell, who was doing extensive research for a senior project on the loss of this area's weaving and textile industry. </p><p>Howell learned how to weave as part of her project, and spent significant time on a Heritage Weavers' loom, Mullican says. </p><p>Howell graduated from West Henderson High School in June and is now studying graphic design at Appalachian State University.</p><p>At the Fiber Expo, Mullican will demonstrate and lead hands-on practice on the inkle loom, an ancient loom that was used by nomadic tribes of Mesopotamia, among other cultures around the world.</p><p>"These looms, the traditions have been around for thousands of years," Mullican says. "They can be traced back to pictures on the walls of ancient tombs."</p>